Have a dispute with another company or client? The FMC may be the answer.

If you have a dispute on a shipment which either originated or has a final destination in the United States, you may not need a lawyer to resolve the issue. Before engaging in costly litigation, you should know that the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) may be able to assist. Learn more about how the FMC could help you resolve these disputes.

Country Guides Update Continues

Since June, IAM has updated 122 out of the 183 Country Guides on the IAM website. IAM staff have begun outreach to members in 177 out of these 183 countries. Weekly updates can be found on IAM Connected regarding which countries have been updated. Contact Anna Lanman.

Membership Renewals

Invoices for 2017 membership renewals have been emailed to the billing contact on Dec. 8. If you are one of the companies that has not paid, your membership is past due. Avoid any interruption in your IAM membership benefits - and any programs or services you subscribe to - by using fast and easy online bill payment available on the IAM website.

Pay by Check or Bank Wire

To pay by check, make your check payable to International Association of Movers and include the invoice number on the check. Checks must be drawn on a USA bank account. Mail your check to: International Association of Movers, 5904 Richmond Hwy, Suite 404, Alexandria, VA 22303 USA

To pay by bank wire, email IAMaccounts@IAMovers.org to request IAM banking details. Please include the invoice number on the bank wire.

Port Detention Charges: FMC wants Your Input

From the Federal Register: Notice is hereby given that the Coalition for Fair Port Practices has petitioned the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to initiate a rulemaking "to clarify what constitutes 'just and reasonable rules and practices' with respect to the assessment of demurrage, detention, and per diem charges by ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators when ports are congested or otherwise inaccessible." The Petition is posted on the Commission's Website and comments are due by Feb. 18.

Editor's Note: IAM is a party to the petition that has been filed with the FMC and is also providing funding for the related legal costs. Although the majority of petitioners ship general commodity cargoes, any positive results generated by this effort will benefit household goods service movers and service providers as well. We strongly encourage you to review and submit comments. The more entities the Commission hears from, the more likely there will be positive action taken.

Applications for AFW Scholarships and Nominations for HOH officially opened Jan. 1

We all know that many observers expect autonomous technology to help alleviate the truck driver shortage, at least to a degree, but how will it affect other trucking jobs like dispatching? Load planning? Could they be automated as well?

The first container train from China to Britain arrived at DB Cargo's London Eurohub terminal in Barking on schedule on January 18, having left Yiwu in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, southeast of Shanghai on 1 January.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says that whilst Prime Minister Theresa May's much anticipated speech today has delivered some clarity on the UK's plans to leave the European Union's single market, it remains short on the details that will assist its members as they go about their business of managing much of the UK's visible international trade.

Cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) - already the top cargo airport in the world, in terms of tonnage - added to its lead with a 3.2 percent increase, compared to 2015, to 4.52 million tonnes in 2016. Over the year, HKIA also handled 411,530 flight movements, representing a yearly rise of 1.4 percent.

As the year-end data starts to flow, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport joins a list of cargo handlers and carriers that saw their volumes surge back into profitability in 2016, after a lean start to the year. With a throughput of 1.66 million tonnes, up 2.5 percent over 2015, Schiphol set a new annual record for cargo lift.

Member News

Yogesh Thakker joins Gridiron Forwarding Co.

Gridiron Forwarding Company Inc., a leading provider of global relocation and moving services, is pleased to announce the addition of Yogesh Thakker to its team as Commercial Traffic Operations Manager. With an extensive career of over 28 years in international moving, Yogesh decided to join Gridiron to enhance his experience. With the addition of Mr. Thakker, his many years of knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in the further development of our continually growing Commercial Division, which also encompasses our U.S. State Department business. Prior to joining Gridiron, Yogesh was the founder of 21st Century Relocations Inc. Yogesh holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management, a Law degree and a Bachelor's degree in Commerce & Economics.

More than 200 people filed into JK Moving Services new 75,000 foot warehouse Wednesday evening, January 18 to celebrate the opening of its new facility at 44083 Mercure Circle in Sterling, VA. "Most people here see a warehouse," said JK President and CEO Chuck Kuhn as he addressed the crowd. "We, however, see opportunity and more than a hundred new jobs for Loudoun County." The opening is the latest phase of a JK expansion phenomenon that will culminate in the opening of two more facilities during the 2017 calendar year. The event was open to the public and free of charge and included complimentary food and drink, live entertainment from guitarist/vocalist Jeffrey Herbert, children's activities, tours of the facility and - in an effort to showcase JK's continuous support for the local community - the participation of several regional non-profit organizations.